The findings are based on data on more than 17,500 US adults who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2001 and 2008. Each of the adult subjects reported everything they ate for one 24-hour period.

A total of 347 adults (half male, half female) consumed avocado (average consumption was about half of a medium-sized fruit) during the 24 hours, and these individuals were reported to have significantly better intake of essential nutrients and more positive health indicators.

"These findings suggest an interesting association between the consumption of avocados and better nutrient intakes and other positive outcomes," said lead researcher Dr Victor Fulgoni, a dietary consultant at the firm Nutrition Impact.

"They provide important clues to better understanding the relationships between diet and health, and give direction to future research endeavours."

It's important to note that the study was funded by the Hass Avocado Board, which promotes avocado consumption, so there is some possibility for bias.